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saxdrop

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  1. saxdrop
    What's your early take? Esp. now we know he didn't direct or write any of the episodes.
  2. saxdrop
    Congrats to them -- well-deserved success.
  3. saxdrop
    Re: BALLSTON QUARTER [Initial impression/snap judgment] My bold prediction: In a year or so from now, the food hall will suffer from the Yogi Berra problem ("no one goes there anymore; it's too crowded"). Thursday for lunch, tried Turu's by Timber Pizza Co. and Hot Lola's. Both were pretty good food court options but disappointing given their pedigree. Turu has already said they're intentionally straying from the Neopolitan-ish style at Timber, but neither was it in anyway the New York-style slices claimed in this article from just two weeks ago -- and I'm not being precious about the genre here, I mean literally there weren't slices available, only whole 10" pies (four total plus a Caesar salad and some bottled beverage options). Growing pains and some adjustments are inevitable but I'm a little surprised they didn't at least have the concept down, esp. since this isn't their first go round. And they've got one of those beautiful ceramic wood-fired ovens. The ingredients were top notch, but the dough lacked any defining characteristic. It was like the person at a party that doesn't say anything . It wasn't offensive but offers nothing. They were on-boarding a new employee while I was there so they clearly expect to grow. At Hot Lola's they have four chicken sandwich options ranging from mild to "table-flipping" heat, as well as chicken tenders and hot dogs. I had the "O.G." which is the 2nd hottest options and the one they say is the basis for the restaurant. The texture, fry, sauce and bun were all really excellent. But "hot + spicy" it wasn't at all. Next time I'll just go full monty. I did appreciate that the flavor, such as it was, combined traditional cayenne and szechuan peppers (just not enough of it apparently). Got there as some of the spots were opening around 11am, finished around noon. It was starting to buzz a little as I left, but with still plenty of room to grow. I assume the pitch from the developer to tenants was something like "we're putting a bunch of money into this, so you know we're committed, but it'll be a process to get people in here." I wandered around the mall for a bit after, by Punch Bowl Social and where the new Ted's Bulletin will be. It's a really impressive design but eerily empty. Also caught an afternoon movie at the theater and was the only one in my showing (to be fair, it was 4:30pm on a weekday). Overall it's clear Ballston Quarter is a big swing (ed. Captain Obvious strikes again!) and the number of "Coming Soon" signage is promising. There's little doubt that in time the reward for visiting will be high, but it may require some kind of sunspotting change in the neighborhood's habits. [Unrelated: I saw Us. Anyone want to discuss?]
  4. saxdrop
    Officially open: Jan 9, 2019 - "Old Dominion Pizza Company Opens along Lee Highway" by Alex Koma on arlnow.com Swung by for dinner on Monday. Available slices were limited to pepperoni and cheese, in both traditional slice and Grandma style (and gluten-free which I did not try). Summary judgment: this is decidedly a step down from Upper Crust, which was itself middling in quality but at least creative. That said, I won't write it off -- they just opened like a minute ago and they're calling it a soft launch. Also given the owner's restaurant experience, I'm optimistic it'll improve with time. I'm desperate for a decent (not expecting greatness) slice option in my neighborhood. It may be sacrilege to say, but The Italian Store's slice game is forgettable, in contrast to their whole pie ability.
  5. saxdrop
    [Belated post from a mid-October overnight visit] Thank you thank you thank you all for this magnificent thread. Having only one day to try a sampling of spots, I pulled almost exclusively from here and it did not disappoint. We spent the afternoon cruising through a couple breweries and then did dinner and a couple drinks. Breweries: Hardywood Brewery, Veil Brewing Co., The Answer Brewpub, Buskey Cider, Blue Bee Cider Dinner: Brenner Pass Lodging: Clarion Hotel Central (<-- decidedly NOT recommended) I'm big on cider. Buskey's products are all fairly flavorless, and they seem averse to taking risks and embracing some of the funky, interesting heritage apples available -- though it is a cool space, pretty ideal for groups, and nearby other hangs. Blue Bee is decidedly a step up. Hardywood had my favorite beers of the day; Veil is seemingly the cool kids hang; Answer Brewpub isn't "pretty" but has the best selection. Brenner Pass was solid top-to-bottom (save a brief delay in taking our drink order after seating) and a remarkable value to boot...am I that jaded by DC prices?! If we get back, definitely want to hit ZZQ (obviously), L'opossum, Edo's, Metzger Bar and maybe try one of the cocktail-focused spots like Rogue or The Jasper.
  6. saxdrop
    First visit! Essentially riffed off @eatruneat's order strategy but ate in. Last Fri, around 1130am. I'd say half dozen tables seated. Steam Dumpling in Red Hot Sauce / Dan Dan Noodles / Shaanxi Style Homemade Noodle / Grilled Lamb Skewers / Shredded Beef in Spicy Oil Broth (don't recall the name; my Chinese friend ordered off the printed menu and it came in a large white pot with choice of protein) The Shaanxi noodles and the skewers were my favorite. The dumplings and Dan Dan noodles made for pretty decent leftovers hours later. My one nitpick on the latter, these struck me as overcooked and slightly mushy, not the springiness and chew with which I was familiar. Having only really had them at Hong Kong Palace (Falls Church) and Mala Tang (Arlington), I'm wiling to concede my limited experience here - flavor was still great.
  7. saxdrop
    Confirmed (with response from ownership): Ruta del Vino has permanently closed.
  8. saxdrop
    Oh, I grabbed that one reservation before I even posted! Like I said, not really any other options for us. And knowing me, if I had your experience from a couple months ago,, it would've just ruined my night. Figured, worst case scenario, better satiated with mediocre food than hangry during the show. I know my show in the concert hall is sold out, and can safely assume Hamilton! in the Opera Hall will be as well.
  9. saxdrop
    As far as I can tell, this was the most positive clause from @monavano's post! Any updates from more recent visitors? We're planning on going for dinner Friday before a show. Not our first choice, but with a forecast heat index of 101, we don't want to bother with hoofing it between locations or paying addtl parking/cab. The dinner menu looks more interesting than I assumed. Should I be surprised there was only one reservation time available, or is that primarily a function of having a captive "audience"? UDATE: Should I be surprised there was only one reservation time available[?] Oh right....Hamilton. Btw, there's some tickets left for Friday, but the cheapest are $399 (before fees).
  10. saxdrop
    Had my birthday dinner here June 2 -- I don't disagree. ...mmmm.....48-hour lamb...
  11. saxdrop
    Been able to try a couple of the recs on this thread (thanks again gang!): Taqueria 3 Reyes -- I need to revisit to sample more of the menu, but of what I've tried so far the tacos (natch) are far superior to the tortas (which are nonetheless a big part of the menu, seemingly a feature) and the beef (ground, lengua, et al) better than other proteins. Great value; can make a very filling meal (or two) for less than $10. They seem to fire as much as possible to order but one can still get in and out fairy quickly if you don't hit a rush. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - The two piece dark plate (thigh/leg + 2 sides; I did baked beans and slaw) is $8.45. It's a fair price for what you get - portions aren't skimpy nor plentiful. Chicken clearly being fried on-the-go. It came out at a perfect temp to eat, and as others have noted incredibly crispy, not an ounce of excess grease, and seemingly light. Excellent southern fried chicken. But....several folks noted it's a spicy chicken, so what did I miss? It wasn't the least bit spicy, and I don't mean in the "you call that HOT? That's not HOT!" one-upping way, I mean in that if someone had handed me the plate blind, I would have never thought to describe any spice. Which is not to say it wasn't flavorful bc it was. They even threw in packets of Crystal Hot Sauce. Am I crazy? Just Jerk is next on the list.
  12. saxdrop
    Thanks guys for all the recs! Haven't had a chance to swing by Gus's but I definitely will in the next few weeks. I guess I should clarify the circumstances of my visits. I have a standing Wednesday evening and occasional Saturday midday/afternoon comitment at the stadium - in other words, NON game day whatnot. I'm familiar with the "FedEx consumes your life for hours before and after the show/game" scenario but fortunately that's not this. I'm typically coming from the Capitol Hill area and return to Arlington by car. Basically I generally have up to one hour (though often less) around the 630-730pm-ish window to kill for dinner. once/week in that area.
  13. saxdrop
    Appreciate the gesture Don, but, uh.... The closest restaurant on this list of dining "near" FedEx is 11 miles away, easily over 30 mins drive. The furthest is over 20 miles! (in Bethesda). This isn't so much a list of dining around FedEx, by a "Washington local expert," as it's a grab bag of general "greater Washington area" spots.
  14. saxdrop
    Hoping for you as well, but I can't think of any reason why it would be. But this prompts a good question: what are your best bets in that little corridor for a pre-theater (or pre-event) bite? I don't go to National Theatre often, but I do end up at JW Marriott for receptions and Warner Theatre is right there too - what are one's options? Occidental? Central? I'll quibble with @The Hersch's suggestion. Not the "Jaleo, with spectacular food" part, but it's just too far for this purpose - strictly speaking that's a full mile roundtrip. Am I being too precious? Maybe. But consider given the occassion(s), I'd be wearing a suit or at least a jacket, my companion likely in heels and a dress. And the sticky weather months are already upon us. Assuming we'd want to park once (and NOT drive to the theater + cab two ways), 0.3 mi. is probably the maximum walking radius. Thoughts?
  15. saxdrop
    [Bumping this thread] It's been quite a few years since this anyone added on to this convo. I'm going to be at and around FedEx fairly often over the next several months, so hoping folks have some updated food options! Any improvement to the area's dining? I noticed, unfortunately, KBQ and Ray's at East River are closed. Jerry's Seafood still open but a little further out. There's a Wegman's very nearby now: is takeout from there my best option? I'd be okay with that. Ideally there's some other fast-casual/moderately-paced service places, but honestly I'd take anything promising.
  16. saxdrop
    If we're breaking the Paul Fleming seal....I'll add Pei Wei and Z'Tejas. I liked (not loved) ShopHouse, but I suppose there had to be a binding constraint on the fast casual space.
  17. saxdrop
    Side-stepping the discussion in media res about the status and fate of Isabella Inc., we went last night to the new Wharf location as a result of an audible. I realized only at the last minute (on a Friday night) that District Winery is NOT part of the new District Wharf development (oops). Wanting to make the rounds we searched for an available two top and went with Requin. Summary judgment: it's a buzzy place, with a kind of flamboyant entrance/facade, that'll get busier over time. The layout is odd, and there was a mix of early 20s scenesters, expense account riders, and even a couple infants parked in hi-chairs adjacent the fashionable moms club. I thought the kitchen is operating at a high level, esp. for this early in the run, but not producing anything totally novel or mind-expanding (e.g., presence of lobster thermidor on the menu). Food: Escargot Crossaints, Pommes Beignets (on the fly sub for 86'd Truffle Gougeres), Chanterelle Tarte, "Paris" Gnocchi*, and Red Snapper Sashimi Drink: Dr. Hermann Riesling (2016), Puzelate-Bonhomme Cot (Malbec) (2015), Priest Hill Cab-Sauv (2014)* * highlights We checked into Hank's Oyster bar but only to look around. We also had before/after drinks at Kith & Kin and Pearl Street Warehouse, respectively. Based on some of the Gen X and Boomer-rific acts coming to Anthem over the next few months and steady drumbeat of new openings, I expect this place will manage to stay near capacity on weekends purely due to proximity volume, but hopefully they can maintain quality nonetheless.
  18. saxdrop
    Good point. Perhaps I could revise the advice to: Given a choice between a Danny Meyer Union Square Hospitality Group place and a non-Danny Meyer Union Square Hospitality Group place in NYC, I will always go with Danny Meyer.
  19. saxdrop
    I ended up applying and filming an episode several months back. I'm told my episode (#2) premieres tonight at 8pm and then airs a handful of times afterward. I'm also told it'll also be available online afterward for two weeks at this link but I don't see the pilot episode so who knows. They'll have a running map of restaurants reviewed. It was fun -- we'll see what to make of it. I'm not encouraged by the fact that there was a premiere party hosted by the show last week....and apparently I didn't make the cut for an invite.
  20. saxdrop
    In August I was finally able to try the new Union Square Cafe. Everything written about it is pretty spot on -- it's incredibly airy and bright and welcoming. Four of us had a downstairs table for lunch. Disclosure: a close friend is a somm there, so they were generous with gratis dishes. Between us we were able to try from every menu category and there wasn't a single dish that didn't sparkle in its execution. A funk-curious sparkling rose was a perfect pairing on an 85-degree, high humidity day. The one curious lapse was, oddly enough, our server who was either new or high or whatever. Basic things went unattended, spilled drinks, etc. After a pit stop at the bar, we wandered over to Maialino (another friend) - I was too full to (fully) partake in more food (ed: okay fine, i kept stuffing my face because I'm a garbage person), but I highly recommend the somm counter thing in between the front and back dining rooms. Our one server notwithstanding, I can assure that service was on point and food still shines in these two parts of the Meyer empire. This seems like solid advice.
  21. saxdrop
    Orso made #6 on Carman's margherita run down. ...and feeling slightly validated that I wasn;t imagining things: "Crust: The first thing you’ll notice about the crust is its tang, courtesy of a sourdough starter used by Bertrand Chemel, a French chef trained in the ways of Italian pizza. Yes, a starter is allowed under the formal rules for margherita pizza."
  22. saxdrop
    Contra my previous praise for this place, last time I went the entire order of yellowtail sushi was frozen solid, even after about 10 minutes between picking up and getting home. That's just unacceptable to me so I haven't went back but hesitated to call them out (until now).
  23. saxdrop
    Made a Sunday post-Dunkirk swing through. Went full on chalkboard specials: Whole Crispy Snapper, Shrimp in Tamarind Sauce, Fried Soft Shelled Crab, Banana Blossom Salad I clearly undervalue this place since I don't eat there at least weekly - I need to reevaluate my priorities. Lone complaint this round was none of the items brought any heat, but I "chalk" that up to being specific to the dishes themselves and not a change in the kitchen's mission. Also the riesling they had by glass was a garbage August Cellars option, but that's not so much a complaint as a warning.
  24. saxdrop
    well, since you asked... went to the recently-opened Continental Beer Garden on Saturday afternoon. They are dog friendly and have dual bocce courts. Menu is standard beer garden fare but was apparently put together by Marjorie Meek-Bradley (some staff were sporting Smoked & Stacked shirts). Beer list - not huge but had some interesting cans. Very small interior portion. One thing I really liked is the roaming wait staff can run cards and print receipts right at your table. I assume they're anticipating this as a way to deal with peak crowds.
  25. saxdrop
    Adding my name to list of devoted fans of Arlington Kabob. Great staff, fresh food. That bolani though...it's killer, def my favorite thing on offer. One of the employees (owner?) suggested reheating in a skillet with a fried egg on top for breakfast next day. Yup, that just about did it.
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